Archive for the ‘auto shows’ Category

This year’s Los Angeles Auto Show was replete with both big hits and big misses, as most of the major automakers showed up to display their latest and greatest wares to the vast motor-minded audiences in attendance. Hell, even Tesla decided to make an appearance. However, nestled amongst the rows of shiny new SUVs, sedans, and sports cars, you could also find a few surprises – race cars, prototypes, one-off concepts, and just plain strange rides were scattered around like so many Easter eggs, and we got the good ones right here in the following list. These are the weird and random cars that we found at the 2017 LA Auto Show.

Continue reading to learn more about the weird and random cars we found at the 2017 LA Auto Show.

The big bad box you see before you is the first effort from Bollinger Motors, a startup truck manufacturer established in 2014 and based out of upstate New York. The big headline here is that this thing is totally electric, which in some ways, actually makes a lot of sense for an off-roader application (beyond the fact the great outdoors rarely comes with a charging station, of course). For example, all that low-end torque is great for crawling over obstacles, while the low-mounted batteries and electric motors keep it from tipping over. Then there’s all the extra space you get when you don’t have to engineer around a big bulky engine and drivetrain.

Dubbed the B1, the Bollinger Motors truck rides on a bespoke chassis, and gets a boxy, simplistic, utilitarian exterior that can be converted between either a half-cab or a full-cab. The interior is surprisingly spacious with its 95 cubic feet of cargo room, which also includes a full pass-through feature from the nose to the rear that’ll let you carry around long stuff. Making it go is 360 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque, pumped out by a dual front/rear motor AWD system with dual gearboxes and a HI/LO range. Options include both 60-kWh and 100-kWh batteries, offering 120 miles or 200 miles respectively. Keeping it all topped off is regenerative braking, plus the option for DC fast charging. Suspension wise, there’s 15.5 inches of ground clearance, 10 inches of wheel travel, and a 56 degree/33 degree/53 degree approach/breakover/departure angle.

Honda’s Indy 500 Winner

This past May, Takuma Sato managed to clinch victory at the 101st Indianapolis 500, becoming the first driver of Asian descent to win the legendary event. The race concluded in thrilling fashion, as Sato barely nosed ahead of the Chevy-powered #3 Team Penske car of Helio Castroneves, crossing the finish line with a margin of just 0.2011 seconds. Providing the power needed to edge out his rivals was Honda and Team Andretti Autosport, and in celebration of the win, the H Badge shipped out Sato’s triumphant blue and white #26 racer for all us mere mortals to gaze upon and drool over.

Back in September, Jaguar Land Rover announced it was launching a support race series for the FIA Formula E championship, set to get underway some time late next year. It’s called the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy, and it’ll sport a grid of equally prepped race-ready iterations of the battery-powered Jaguar I-Pace SUV, each of which will be piloted by a rookie driver looking to make a name for him or herself in the higher echelons of electric racing.

While exact specs on the I-Pace eTrophy are still forthcoming, we do know Special Vehicle Operations, Jag’s in-house skunkworks based out of Warwickshire, U.K., will be responsible for turning the wrenches. And, based on what we saw in LA, we also know each I-Pace eTrophy will get a deep front splitter, an enormous rear wing, meaty tires, and a lowered stance.

While quick pavement pounders were in abundance in LA, Mitsubishi also brought out its own racing machine with this Outlander rally car. Notable for competing in the 29th Baja Portalegre 500 back in 2015, this terra firma-churner managed to place third in the first leg of the race, second in the Super Special Stage, and second in the second selective section, netting a third-place position for the final rally stage before grabbing second for the last stage. Impressive stuff, especially when you consider the Outlander was the only plug-in hybrid in attendance.

To keep it competitive, the Mitsubishi Hybrid Outlander gets a slew of upgrades over the standard road car. Providing the power is an upgraded battery pack (up to 16 kWh in the rally car) and a tuned 2.0-liter gas engine, while the front and rear electric motor control system was tweaked to make more of the go stuff as well. Keeping it floating over the bumps is a Tein suspension system, while 235/85 tires from Falken mounted on 16-inch wheels help it grip. Then of course there’s the usual lightweight exterior, plus interior strip down, bucket seats, and safety gear, while the charging port was moved inside the trunk.

Mitsubishi Re-Model A

Next to the dirt-busting, race-ready, hybrid Outlander rally car is something even weirder – the Mitsubishi Re-Model A. To help celebrate it’s 100th anniversary this year, Mitsu decided to give its very first model a little refresh. Starting with a Mitsubishi Model A, the Japanese brand went to the iconic West Coast Customs shop to infuse the century-old automobile with equipment and options straight outta 2017.

While the exterior retains the same antique styling, there’s a whole lot going on under the skin. Providing the platform is Mitsu’s Outlander PHEV, which means it’s got the make’s Super All-Wheel Control system (S-AWC) for grip and plug-in potential for recharging. The interior is another amalgamation of both new and old, with a modern dash plus old-timey bench seats, while features like Forward Collision Mitigation and smartphone support are included as well.

Police Responder Hybrid

Now you don’t have to burn tons of gas while out cruising for perps. Say hello to the Police Responder Hybrid, a greener alternative to the Blue Oval’s past law enforcement vehicles. Based on the Ford Fusion, the Police Responder Hybrid gets the combined power of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and electric motor to produce 188 horsepower and return 38 mpg. Coming complete with a front ramming bar, driver side spotlight, black and white exterior graphics, and classic red and blue lights on the roof, this thing looks the part perfectly, while the interior is decked-out with all the usual cop gear, plus a stain-resistant rear bench to help clean up the blood or vomit or whatever else the criminals might discharge.

Project Redspace Reds

Now we’re getting into the really strange stuff. This funky looking box thing is called the Redspace Reds, and it aims to bring hassle-free, all-electric, autonomous transportation to the masses. Created for a “megacity” environment, where streets are almost always crowded in near-constant gridlock and space of any kind is at an absolute premium, the Redspace Reds includes an interior that provides passengers with a mobile workspace, like a modular seating arrangement that’ll see the chairs rotate for face-to-face meetings, plus a fold down desk for paperwork or a spot to prop up a laptop. It looks pretty crazy, no doubt about it, but considering Redspace hails from China, a country where megacities are much more the norm, this might be the direction we’re heading as well.

The whole tank-treads-on-a-car thing has been done before, but this concept from GMC takes it to impressive new heights. Dubbed the All-Mountain, this massive slab of truck is based on the Sierra 2500HD Denali 4WD Crew Cab, rocking a torque-tastic 6.6-liter turbo-diesel V-8 as motivation for the four powder-churning tracks in the corners. With over 900 pound-feet of torque on tap, this thing has the twist needed to get to the top, while the suspension sees a massive lift to help it roll over anything in its way. Outside is an assortment of racks and mounts to get the gear there intact, while a Kicker audio system blasts the toonage while you shred the gnar. Fresh pow, bruh!

Speaking of simply massive machines, check out this latest movie tie-in from Nissan. Dubbed the Titan AT-M6 Walker, the Nissan was built to help promote the latest addition to the Star Wars franchise, The Last Jedi, with full-size sci-fi effects that look like they came straight off the silver screen. Rightfully so – taking responsibility for its creation is Vehicle Effects, the same northern California-based studio that did the cars for the Fast & Furious franchise and Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. Of course, the Titan wasn’t the only force-powered vehicle in attendance, with a slew of smaller Nissan-based starfighters joining it on the show floor, but without a doubt, this one had the most presence. Biggest laser too.

Sondors Three-Wheeler EV

Last, but not least, we have this svelte little all-electric three-wheeler. Developed by electric bike-maker Sondors, the trike hopes to offer customers low-cost, highly efficient electron-driven transportation for around town and weekend fun. There are three seats inside, while an Italian design house penned the exterior. Pricing should start at around $10,000, with options for 75 miles, 150 miles, and 200 miles between plug-ins. Acceleration takes between 5 and 8 seconds for the 0-to-60 mph benchmark. Sondors built the prototype off 100 percent crowdfunding, and is currently seeking more money to get pre-production rolling. However, Sondors is declining to offer pre-orders to make sure it doesn’t “oversell and under-deliver.” How… contrarian?

This year’s Los Angeles Auto Show was replete with both big hits and big misses, as most of the major automakers showed up to display their latest and greatest wares to the vast motor-minded audiences in attendance. Hell, even Tesla decided to make an appearance. However, nestled amongst the rows of shiny new SUVs, sedans, and sports cars, you could also find a few surprises – race cars, prototypes, one-off concepts, and just plain strange rides were scattered around like so many Easter eggs, and we got the good ones right here in the following list. These are the weird and random cars that we found at the 2017 LA Auto Show.

Continue reading to learn more about the weird and random cars we found at the 2017 LA Auto Show.

The big bad box you see before you is the first effort from Bollinger Motors, a startup truck manufacturer established in 2014 and based out of upstate New York. The big headline here is that this thing is totally electric, which in some ways, actually makes a lot of sense for an off-roader application (beyond the fact the great outdoors rarely comes with a charging station, of course). For example, all that low-end torque is great for crawling over obstacles, while the low-mounted batteries and electric motors keep it from tipping over. Then there’s all the extra space you get when you don’t have to engineer around a big bulky engine and drivetrain.

Dubbed the B1, the Bollinger Motors truck rides on a bespoke chassis, and gets a boxy, simplistic, utilitarian exterior that can be converted between either a half-cab or a full-cab. The interior is surprisingly spacious with its 95 cubic feet of cargo room, which also includes a full pass-through feature from the nose to the rear that’ll let you carry around long stuff. Making it go is 360 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque, pumped out by a dual front/rear motor AWD system with dual gearboxes and a HI/LO range. Options include both 60-kWh and 100-kWh batteries, offering 120 miles or 200 miles respectively. Keeping it all topped off is regenerative braking, plus the option for DC fast charging. Suspension wise, there’s 15.5 inches of ground clearance, 10 inches of wheel travel, and a 56 degree/33 degree/53 degree approach/breakover/departure angle.

Honda’s Indy 500 Winner

This past May, Takuma Sato managed to clinch victory at the 101st Indianapolis 500, becoming the first driver of Asian descent to win the legendary event. The race concluded in thrilling fashion, as Sato barely nosed ahead of the Chevy-powered #3 Team Penske car of Helio Castroneves, crossing the finish line with a margin of just 0.2011 seconds. Providing the power needed to edge out his rivals was Honda and Team Andretti Autosport, and in celebration of the win, the H Badge shipped out Sato’s triumphant blue and white #26 racer for all us mere mortals to gaze upon and drool over.

Back in September, Jaguar Land Rover announced it was launching a support race series for the FIA Formula E championship, set to get underway some time late next year. It’s called the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy, and it’ll sport a grid of equally prepped race-ready iterations of the battery-powered Jaguar I-Pace SUV, each of which will be piloted by a rookie driver looking to make a name for him or herself in the higher echelons of electric racing.

While exact specs on the I-Pace eTrophy are still forthcoming, we do know Special Vehicle Operations, Jag’s in-house skunkworks based out of Warwickshire, U.K., will be responsible for turning the wrenches. And, based on what we saw in LA, we also know each I-Pace eTrophy will get a deep front splitter, an enormous rear wing, meaty tires, and a lowered stance.

While quick pavement pounders were in abundance in LA, Mitsubishi also brought out its own racing machine with this Outlander rally car. Notable for competing in the 29th Baja Portalegre 500 back in 2015, this terra firma-churner managed to place third in the first leg of the race, second in the Super Special Stage, and second in the second selective section, netting a third-place position for the final rally stage before grabbing second for the last stage. Impressive stuff, especially when you consider the Outlander was the only plug-in hybrid in attendance.

To keep it competitive, the Mitsubishi Hybrid Outlander gets a slew of upgrades over the standard road car. Providing the power is an upgraded battery pack (up to 16 kWh in the rally car) and a tuned 2.0-liter gas engine, while the front and rear electric motor control system was tweaked to make more of the go stuff as well. Keeping it floating over the bumps is a Tein suspension system, while 235/85 tires from Falken mounted on 16-inch wheels help it grip. Then of course there’s the usual lightweight exterior, plus interior strip down, bucket seats, and safety gear, while the charging port was moved inside the trunk.

Mitsubishi Re-Model A

Next to the dirt-busting, race-ready, hybrid Outlander rally car is something even weirder – the Mitsubishi Re-Model A. To help celebrate it’s 100th anniversary this year, Mitsu decided to give its very first model a little refresh. Starting with a Mitsubishi Model A, the Japanese brand went to the iconic West Coast Customs shop to infuse the century-old automobile with equipment and options straight outta 2017.

While the exterior retains the same antique styling, there’s a whole lot going on under the skin. Providing the platform is Mitsu’s Outlander PHEV, which means it’s got the make’s Super All-Wheel Control system (S-AWC) for grip and plug-in potential for recharging. The interior is another amalgamation of both new and old, with a modern dash plus old-timey bench seats, while features like Forward Collision Mitigation and smartphone support are included as well.

Police Responder Hybrid

Now you don’t have to burn tons of gas while out cruising for perps. Say hello to the Police Responder Hybrid, a greener alternative to the Blue Oval’s past law enforcement vehicles. Based on the Ford Fusion, the Police Responder Hybrid gets the combined power of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and electric motor to produce 188 horsepower and return 38 mpg. Coming complete with a front ramming bar, driver side spotlight, black and white exterior graphics, and classic red and blue lights on the roof, this thing looks the part perfectly, while the interior is decked-out with all the usual cop gear, plus a stain-resistant rear bench to help clean up the blood or vomit or whatever else the criminals might discharge.

Project Redspace Reds

Now we’re getting into the really strange stuff. This funky looking box thing is called the Redspace Reds, and it aims to bring hassle-free, all-electric, autonomous transportation to the masses. Created for a “megacity” environment, where streets are almost always crowded in near-constant gridlock and space of any kind is at an absolute premium, the Redspace Reds includes an interior that provides passengers with a mobile workspace, like a modular seating arrangement that’ll see the chairs rotate for face-to-face meetings, plus a fold down desk for paperwork or a spot to prop up a laptop. It looks pretty crazy, no doubt about it, but considering Redspace hails from China, a country where megacities are much more the norm, this might be the direction we’re heading as well.

The whole tank-treads-on-a-car thing has been done before, but this concept from GMC takes it to impressive new heights. Dubbed the All-Mountain, this massive slab of truck is based on the Sierra 2500HD Denali 4WD Crew Cab, rocking a torque-tastic 6.6-liter turbo-diesel V-8 as motivation for the four powder-churning tracks in the corners. With over 900 pound-feet of torque on tap, this thing has the twist needed to get to the top, while the suspension sees a massive lift to help it roll over anything in its way. Outside is an assortment of racks and mounts to get the gear there intact, while a Kicker audio system blasts the toonage while you shred the gnar. Fresh pow, bruh!

Speaking of simply massive machines, check out this latest movie tie-in from Nissan. Dubbed the Titan AT-M6 Walker, the Nissan was built to help promote the latest addition to the Star Wars franchise, The Last Jedi, with full-size sci-fi effects that look like they came straight off the silver screen. Rightfully so – taking responsibility for its creation is Vehicle Effects, the same northern California-based studio that did the cars for the Fast & Furious franchise and Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. Of course, the Titan wasn’t the only force-powered vehicle in attendance, with a slew of smaller Nissan-based starfighters joining it on the show floor, but without a doubt, this one had the most presence. Biggest laser too.

Sondors Three-Wheeler EV

Last, but not least, we have this svelte little all-electric three-wheeler. Developed by electric bike-maker Sondors, the trike hopes to offer customers low-cost, highly efficient electron-driven transportation for around town and weekend fun. There are three seats inside, while an Italian design house penned the exterior. Pricing should start at around $10,000, with options for 75 miles, 150 miles, and 200 miles between plug-ins. Acceleration takes between 5 and 8 seconds for the 0-to-60 mph benchmark. Sondors built the prototype off 100 percent crowdfunding, and is currently seeking more money to get pre-production rolling. However, Sondors is declining to offer pre-orders to make sure it doesn’t “oversell and under-deliver.” How… contrarian?

This year’s Los Angeles Auto Show was replete with both big hits and big misses, as most of the major automakers showed up to display their latest and greatest wares to the vast motor-minded audiences in attendance. Hell, even Tesla decided to make an appearance. However, nestled amongst the rows of shiny new SUVs, sedans, and sports cars, you could also find a few surprises – race cars, prototypes, one-off concepts, and just plain strange rides were scattered around like so many Easter eggs, and we got the good ones right here in the following list. These are the weird and random cars that we found at the 2017 LA Auto Show.

Continue reading to learn more about the weird and random cars we found at the 2017 LA Auto Show.

The big bad box you see before you is the first effort from Bollinger Motors, a startup truck manufacturer established in 2014 and based out of upstate New York. The big headline here is that this thing is totally electric, which in some ways, actually makes a lot of sense for an off-roader application (beyond the fact the great outdoors rarely comes with a charging station, of course). For example, all that low-end torque is great for crawling over obstacles, while the low-mounted batteries and electric motors keep it from tipping over. Then there’s all the extra space you get when you don’t have to engineer around a big bulky engine and drivetrain.

Dubbed the B1, the Bollinger Motors truck rides on a bespoke chassis, and gets a boxy, simplistic, utilitarian exterior that can be converted between either a half-cab or a full-cab. The interior is surprisingly spacious with its 95 cubic feet of cargo room, which also includes a full pass-through feature from the nose to the rear that’ll let you carry around long stuff. Making it go is 360 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque, pumped out by a dual front/rear motor AWD system with dual gearboxes and a HI/LO range. Options include both 60-kWh and 100-kWh batteries, offering 120 miles or 200 miles respectively. Keeping it all topped off is regenerative braking, plus the option for DC fast charging. Suspension wise, there’s 15.5 inches of ground clearance, 10 inches of wheel travel, and a 56 degree/33 degree/53 degree approach/breakover/departure angle.

Honda’s Indy 500 Winner

This past May, Takuma Sato managed to clinch victory at the 101st Indianapolis 500, becoming the first driver of Asian descent to win the legendary event. The race concluded in thrilling fashion, as Sato barely nosed ahead of the Chevy-powered #3 Team Penske car of Helio Castroneves, crossing the finish line with a margin of just 0.2011 seconds. Providing the power needed to edge out his rivals was Honda and Team Andretti Autosport, and in celebration of the win, the H Badge shipped out Sato’s triumphant blue and white #26 racer for all us mere mortals to gaze upon and drool over.

Back in September, Jaguar Land Rover announced it was launching a support race series for the FIA Formula E championship, set to get underway some time late next year. It’s called the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy, and it’ll sport a grid of equally prepped race-ready iterations of the battery-powered Jaguar I-Pace SUV, each of which will be piloted by a rookie driver looking to make a name for him or herself in the higher echelons of electric racing.

While exact specs on the I-Pace eTrophy are still forthcoming, we do know Special Vehicle Operations, Jag’s in-house skunkworks based out of Warwickshire, U.K., will be responsible for turning the wrenches. And, based on what we saw in LA, we also know each I-Pace eTrophy will get a deep front splitter, an enormous rear wing, meaty tires, and a lowered stance.

While quick pavement pounders were in abundance in LA, Mitsubishi also brought out its own racing machine with this Outlander rally car. Notable for competing in the 29th Baja Portalegre 500 back in 2015, this terra firma-churner managed to place third in the first leg of the race, second in the Super Special Stage, and second in the second selective section, netting a third-place position for the final rally stage before grabbing second for the last stage. Impressive stuff, especially when you consider the Outlander was the only plug-in hybrid in attendance.

To keep it competitive, the Mitsubishi Hybrid Outlander gets a slew of upgrades over the standard road car. Providing the power is an upgraded battery pack (up to 16 kWh in the rally car) and a tuned 2.0-liter gas engine, while the front and rear electric motor control system was tweaked to make more of the go stuff as well. Keeping it floating over the bumps is a Tein suspension system, while 235/85 tires from Falken mounted on 16-inch wheels help it grip. Then of course there’s the usual lightweight exterior, plus interior strip down, bucket seats, and safety gear, while the charging port was moved inside the trunk.

Mitsubishi Re-Model A

Next to the dirt-busting, race-ready, hybrid Outlander rally car is something even weirder – the Mitsubishi Re-Model A. To help celebrate it’s 100th anniversary this year, Mitsu decided to give its very first model a little refresh. Starting with a Mitsubishi Model A, the Japanese brand went to the iconic West Coast Customs shop to infuse the century-old automobile with equipment and options straight outta 2017.

While the exterior retains the same antique styling, there’s a whole lot going on under the skin. Providing the platform is Mitsu’s Outlander PHEV, which means it’s got the make’s Super All-Wheel Control system (S-AWC) for grip and plug-in potential for recharging. The interior is another amalgamation of both new and old, with a modern dash plus old-timey bench seats, while features like Forward Collision Mitigation and smartphone support are included as well.

Police Responder Hybrid

Now you don’t have to burn tons of gas while out cruising for perps. Say hello to the Police Responder Hybrid, a greener alternative to the Blue Oval’s past law enforcement vehicles. Based on the Ford Fusion, the Police Responder Hybrid gets the combined power of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and electric motor to produce 188 horsepower and return 38 mpg. Coming complete with a front ramming bar, driver side spotlight, black and white exterior graphics, and classic red and blue lights on the roof, this thing looks the part perfectly, while the interior is decked-out with all the usual cop gear, plus a stain-resistant rear bench to help clean up the blood or vomit or whatever else the criminals might discharge.

Project Redspace Reds

Now we’re getting into the really strange stuff. This funky looking box thing is called the Redspace Reds, and it aims to bring hassle-free, all-electric, autonomous transportation to the masses. Created for a “megacity” environment, where streets are almost always crowded in near-constant gridlock and space of any kind is at an absolute premium, the Redspace Reds includes an interior that provides passengers with a mobile workspace, like a modular seating arrangement that’ll see the chairs rotate for face-to-face meetings, plus a fold down desk for paperwork or a spot to prop up a laptop. It looks pretty crazy, no doubt about it, but considering Redspace hails from China, a country where megacities are much more the norm, this might be the direction we’re heading as well.

The whole tank-treads-on-a-car thing has been done before, but this concept from GMC takes it to impressive new heights. Dubbed the All-Mountain, this massive slab of truck is based on the Sierra 2500HD Denali 4WD Crew Cab, rocking a torque-tastic 6.6-liter turbo-diesel V-8 as motivation for the four powder-churning tracks in the corners. With over 900 pound-feet of torque on tap, this thing has the twist needed to get to the top, while the suspension sees a massive lift to help it roll over anything in its way. Outside is an assortment of racks and mounts to get the gear there intact, while a Kicker audio system blasts the toonage while you shred the gnar. Fresh pow, bruh!

Speaking of simply massive machines, check out this latest movie tie-in from Nissan. Dubbed the Titan AT-M6 Walker, the Nissan was built to help promote the latest addition to the Star Wars franchise, The Last Jedi, with full-size sci-fi effects that look like they came straight off the silver screen. Rightfully so – taking responsibility for its creation is Vehicle Effects, the same northern California-based studio that did the cars for the Fast & Furious franchise and Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. Of course, the Titan wasn’t the only force-powered vehicle in attendance, with a slew of smaller Nissan-based starfighters joining it on the show floor, but without a doubt, this one had the most presence. Biggest laser too.

Sondors Three-Wheeler EV

Last, but not least, we have this svelte little all-electric three-wheeler. Developed by electric bike-maker Sondors, the trike hopes to offer customers low-cost, highly efficient electron-driven transportation for around town and weekend fun. There are three seats inside, while an Italian design house penned the exterior. Pricing should start at around $10,000, with options for 75 miles, 150 miles, and 200 miles between plug-ins. Acceleration takes between 5 and 8 seconds for the 0-to-60 mph benchmark. Sondors built the prototype off 100 percent crowdfunding, and is currently seeking more money to get pre-production rolling. However, Sondors is declining to offer pre-orders to make sure it doesn’t “oversell and under-deliver.” How… contrarian?

References

The 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show is here, and with it comes a fresh batch of four-wheeled goodies to pick through. With more than 50 debuts and over 1,000 vehicles in attendance, the LAAS is the West Coast destination if you’re looking for the latest and greatest from the world’s top automakers. The paint has barely dried by the time these machines roll into the Southland, and attendees get an enticing opportunity to check out what’s headed to dealers before deliveries commence. This year, we saw loads of good stuff, like updated icons, new speed machines, and even an interesting concept or two, all of which is worthy of your collective auto-flavored attention. As such, we put together the following list of exceptional debuts from this year’s event for your reading enjoyment. These are TopSpeed’s picks for Best In Show from the 2017 LA Auto Show.

Of course, it’s entirely possible you’ve got other ideas about what belongs on this list. If that happens to be the case, feel free to post your picks in the comments below, and don’t forget to tell us why you think they deserve the title of Best In Show!

Continue reading to learn more about our picks for Best In Show from the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The new Wrangler has arrived, and it’s bringing with it oodles of tempting options. Body styles include both two-door and four-door iterations, while behind the vertical grille slats, you’ll find one of three engine options. Cog swap duties are handled by one of two transmission options, one of which is a brand-new eight-speed automatic.

The updates continue inside, where we find a modernized interior layout, complete with a new infotainment system. Jeep even showed off a complete line of available upgrades and parts from Mopar. That’s all well and good, but the most important part of this machine is what it can do straight from the factory, and thankfully, the Jeep still looks like one helluva off-roader out of the box. Providing the grip is a 4WD system with features like a 2.72:1 crawl ratio and a 4LO 4:1 ratio with locking differentials for the Rubicon. Then there’s the Rubicon’s ability to wade through water 30 inches deep, its 10.9 inches of ground clearance, and its standard 33-inch tires. All told, this thing has all the capability as the old model, wrapped in a new school package.

It’s no secret we’re fans of the Saleen S7. Rear-mid engine, RWD, and 750 horsepower stuffed into an aero-friendly body that looks like it might cut ‘ya if you stare at it too long… what’s not to like? Now, Saleen is once again offering up something new, and while it might not have the same over-the-top aggression as its older sibling, it’s still got that high-performance allure we’ve come to expect from the brand. Carbon fiber, aluminum, and a compact body keep it light, while a mid-mounted turbo 2.5-liter four-cylinder sends as much as 450 horsepower to the rear wheels. A run to 60 mph takes just 3.5 seconds, while the quarter mile is dispatched in 11.3 seconds. Top speed clocks in at 180 mph.

While it might have four doors and FWD, this Japanese sedan still has plenty of zoom-zoom under the hood. Now, all that go arrives with turbocharged levels of motivation, as Mazda fits the latest 6 with an upgraded and boosted 2.5-liter four-cylinder for the 2018 model year. Outside, we find a few nips and tucks to the already great looking styling, while the interior sees a substantial refit with higher-quality trim and a simplified layout. We’re fans – now it just needs a dash of AWD, eh Mazda?

Following an unveiling of the hardtop coupe variant in Dubai, the ZR1 arrived in LA for its stateside debut, rocking an open-air top and a searing shade of orange paint. Like the coupe, the ZR1 convertible comes proper with a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, which gets drenched with dino juice thanks to a unique dual fuel injection system (both direct and port injection for this monster). Output is rated at 755 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of torque, all of which is sent to the ultra-wide rear wheels by way of either a seven-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. Then, of course, there’s all that carbon fiber, which gets applied to the front splitter, side skirts, and rear wing, plus the enormous engine cover sticking out of the hood. Wanna get noticed?

There’s usually no shortage of outdoorsy-themed SUV concepts, no matter what show you’re talking about, but this concept caught our attention all the same. For starters, if actually looks pretty good, with big, chunky features that work well with the motif, plus a layered front fascia that doesn’t make you want to run and hide. A variety of mounts and carrier racks provide spots to store your gear, while external cameras help to record every move you make in the great outdoors. Finally, a hybrid powertrain keeps it green while crawling through the dirt.

The 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show is here, and with it comes a fresh batch of four-wheeled goodies to pick through. With more than 50 debuts and over 1,000 vehicles in attendance, the LAAS is the West Coast destination if you’re looking for the latest and greatest from the world’s top automakers. The paint has barely dried by the time these machines roll into the Southland, and attendees get an enticing opportunity to check out what’s headed to dealers before deliveries commence. This year, we saw loads of good stuff, like updated icons, new speed machines, and even an interesting concept or two, all of which is worthy of your collective auto-flavored attention. As such, we put together the following list of exceptional debuts from this year’s event for your reading enjoyment. These are TopSpeed’s picks for Best In Show from the 2017 LA Auto Show.

Of course, it’s entirely possible you’ve got other ideas about what belongs on this list. If that happens to be the case, feel free to post your picks in the comments below, and don’t forget to tell us why you think they deserve the title of Best In Show!

Continue reading to learn more about our picks for Best In Show from the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The new Wrangler has arrived, and it’s bringing with it oodles of tempting options. Body styles include both two-door and four-door iterations, while behind the vertical grille slats, you’ll find one of three engine options. Cog swap duties are handled by one of two transmission options, one of which is a brand-new eight-speed automatic.

The updates continue inside, where we find a modernized interior layout, complete with a new infotainment system. Jeep even showed off a complete line of available upgrades and parts from Mopar. That’s all well and good, but the most important part of this machine is what it can do straight from the factory, and thankfully, the Jeep still looks like one helluva off-roader out of the box. Providing the grip is a 4WD system with features like a 2.72:1 crawl ratio and a 4LO 4:1 ratio with locking differentials for the Rubicon. Then there’s the Rubicon’s ability to wade through water 30 inches deep, its 10.9 inches of ground clearance, and its standard 33-inch tires. All told, this thing has all the capability as the old model, wrapped in a new school package.

It’s no secret we’re fans of the Saleen S7. Rear-mid engine, RWD, and 750 horsepower stuffed into an aero-friendly body that looks like it might cut ‘ya if you stare at it too long… what’s not to like? Now, Saleen is once again offering up something new, and while it might not have the same over-the-top aggression as its older sibling, it’s still got that high-performance allure we’ve come to expect from the brand. Carbon fiber, aluminum, and a compact body keep it light, while a mid-mounted turbo 2.5-liter four-cylinder sends as much as 450 horsepower to the rear wheels. A run to 60 mph takes just 3.5 seconds, while the quarter mile is dispatched in 11.3 seconds. Top speed clocks in at 180 mph.

While it might have four doors and FWD, this Japanese sedan still has plenty of zoom-zoom under the hood. Now, all that go arrives with turbocharged levels of motivation, as Mazda fits the latest 6 with an upgraded and boosted 2.5-liter four-cylinder for the 2018 model year. Outside, we find a few nips and tucks to the already great looking styling, while the interior sees a substantial refit with higher-quality trim and a simplified layout. We’re fans – now it just needs a dash of AWD, eh Mazda?

Following an unveiling of the hardtop coupe variant in Dubai, the ZR1 arrived in LA for its stateside debut, rocking an open-air top and a searing shade of orange paint. Like the coupe, the ZR1 convertible comes proper with a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, which gets drenched with dino juice thanks to a unique dual fuel injection system (both direct and port injection for this monster). Output is rated at 755 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of torque, all of which is sent to the ultra-wide rear wheels by way of either a seven-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. Then, of course, there’s all that carbon fiber, which gets applied to the front splitter, side skirts, and rear wing, plus the enormous engine cover sticking out of the hood. Wanna get noticed?

There’s usually no shortage of outdoorsy-themed SUV concepts, no matter what show you’re talking about, but this concept caught our attention all the same. For starters, if actually looks pretty good, with big, chunky features that work well with the motif, plus a layered front fascia that doesn’t make you want to run and hide. A variety of mounts and carrier racks provide spots to store your gear, while external cameras help to record every move you make in the great outdoors. Finally, a hybrid powertrain keeps it green while crawling through the dirt.

Stars Wars: The Last Jedi is hitting theaters next week, and like in year’s past, Nissan is hitching its wagon on the monolithic movie franchise. We saw the fruits of that partnership last year with the launch of the Nissan Rogue One Edition. This year, Nissan and LucasFilms are upping the ante by launching a whole fleet of Stars Wars-inspired creations, including the vehicle you see here.

This is a Nissan Titan, or at least it was until it was redesigned to look more like one of those giant AT-M6 Walker bots that the First Order deployed against the Resistance in The Force Awakens. The overall look and the details that went into creating the Titan Star Wars is a feast for the senses. We should give credit to Vehicle Effects for making this transformation. The California-based company is famous in Hollywood circles for building some of the best cars to hit the silver screen, including all the vehicles in The Fast and Furious and Marvel Cinematic Universe franchises. In addition to the Titan, Vehicle Effects also created the Nissan Altima Special Forces TIE Fighter, Nissan Maxima Kylo Ren, Nissan Maxima Kylo Ren’s TIE Silencer, Nissan Maxima Captain Phasma, Nissan Rogue Poe Dameron’s X-Wing with BB8, and Nissan Rogue Sport A-Wing.

Continue after the jump to read more about the Nissan Star Wars Edition

What makes the Nissan Titan Star Wars special

“The finished product looks incredible, particularly in the way some of its features are in sync with the actual parts from the AT-M6”

With respect to the other Star Wars-inspired Nissan vehicles, the Titan AT-M6 is, without question, the most elaborate creation of the fleet. According to Eric Shimp of Vehicle Effects, most of the materials that were used in this build are made from aluminum. There are also 3D-printed parts, most notably the circuit panels that we can see on the sides of the truck.

The finished product looks incredible, particularly in the way some of its features are in sync with the actual parts from the AT-M6. The hood of the truck features the top end of the walker’s head, right down to the red highlights that represent the windows of the walker. The front bumper of the Titan also gets a pair of proper blasters. Both are flanked by smaller protrusions that resemble the array of artillery that the actual AT-M6 has at its disposal. The rest of the pick-up gets wrapped in the same colors as the AT-M6, complete with black definitions that represent the natural wear-and-tear these walkers get when they’re on the battlefield.

“The rest of the pick-up gets wrapped in the same colors as the AT-M6, complete with black definitions”

The other significant feature of the Titan AT-M6 is sitting at the back, prominently placed for the whole world to see. For those who don’t know, that part there is the body of the AT-M6, and that satellite dish-looking equipment is actually the megacaliber six cannon from which it gets its name.

As elaborate as the exterior is, the Titan’s interior remains largely in stock form. The only modification in this section is the sound equipment that was installed to help recreate the effects of a stomping AT-M6 Walker. Imagine driving in your neighborhood and seeing this in your rear-view mirror. It’s a cool sight, but also not a pleasant one.

No work was done to improve the Titan’s performance capabilities. I don’t see that as an issue though because if you watched The Force Awakens, you’ll know that these AT-M6 Walkers aren’t exactly known for being fleet-footed. The absence of any power upgrades isn’t a reflection of the kind of work that Vehicle Effects put into this build. In fact, the finished vehicle reportedly weighs around 6,500 pounds. That’s 1,500 pounds in added weight to a pickup that already weighs a little over 5,000 pounds, to begin with.

“The finished vehicle reportedly weighs around 6,500 pounds”

Don’t expect the Nissan Titan AT-M6 to somehow find itself in the classifieds anytime soon. Like the rest of the The Last Jedi-inspired Nissan models, this creation will be making the rounds of other auto shows through the first quarter of 2018. Even if the movie itself runs its course at that time, there’s no doubt that these cars will still be major attractions.

Crossovers and SUVs make up a big chunk of Nissan’s sales volume these days, but just because it’s the case now, it doesn’t mean the Japanese automaker is pushing its sedans and sports cars to the sidelines. On the contrary, Nissan has big plans for its sedan and sports car lineups. It hasn’t mentioned what those plans are, but the big part of the company’s focus will return to these models now that its lineup of crossovers and SUVs are all filled up with the arrival of the Kicks crossover.

<doc748292

“It’s smart for the company to think a few steps ahead and look at what the future might bring for the industry”

Nissan can only build so many crossovers and SUVs, right? I would think that’s the case because there aren’t enough segments to differentiate one from the other. So it’s smart for the company to think a few steps ahead and look at what the future might bring for the industry. Nissan North America VP of Product Planning Michael Bunce alluded to it in a conversation with Motor1 at the LA Auto Show. According to Bunce, the “reinvention of the sedan” could be the next big trend in the auto industry after the wave of popularity enjoyed by crossovers and SUVs die down.

The key is to not fall into the trap of reverting back to developing sedan types that the industry has seen before. In the same way that the designs of crossovers and SUVs have evolved in recent years, a natural evolution in the design of sedans could happen because of how the market evolves. Bunce touched on this when he alluded to the lack of appeal minivans had on millennials because “that’s what their parents drove.” In the same breath, “centennials” could be put off by SUVs because of how popular they are. Instead, they could look to a completely different body type to bring back to prominence. That could be the sedan’s meal ticket back to relevancy.

Nissan knows that this could happen, which is why a host of sedans, sports cars, and EVs are all in the pipeline. Even Nissan’s Nismo performance brand is due to get more love and affection now that Nissan has announced plans to “bring some excitement back to the division.”

All of this talk is music to my ears. I understand the business case of going overdrive on crossovers and SUVs. But at some point, sedans and sports cars need to get their time in the spotlight too. It’s nice to know that Nissan shares that sentiment.

Volkswagen has made several I.D. concept vehicles over the years, but it seems one is finally in the works. The automaker’s I.D. Crozz Concept made its U.S. debut at the 2017 L.A. Auto Show after its initial debut last April at the Frankfort Motor Show. VW says the I.D. Crozz Concept will birth a production version, which will be the first of VW’s new generation of electric vehicles. What’s more, VW is promising (again) that its iconic Bus will be reborn for 2022. While hippies and Baby Boomers will approve, this isn’t the first time VW has made such a promise. Still, the Crozz seems more probable since it falls into the red-hot crossover category. VW says a total of 15 new EV vehicles are planned.

Hinrich J. Woebcken, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, says, “The I.D. CROZZ-based electric vehicle will be an affordable and stylish electric SUV.” It will be roughly the size of the 2018 Tiguan, but with a coupe-like shape. Power comes from an 83-kWh lithium-ion battery and is expected to have a 300-mile range. The part-time AWD crossover uses two electric motors – one on each axle – for a total output of 302 horsepower. VW says the Crozz will change to 80 percent in only 30 minutes using a 150-kWh DC charger. Self-driving technology is planned for 2025, too, so we could expect that to accompany the Crozz’s mid-cycle refresh. That’s just speculation, of course.

Continue reading for more on the 2020 Volkswagen I.D. Crozz Concept.

From dirty diesels to self-driving electric vehicles

“Volkswagen is working hard to rid itself of the soot stains from Dieselgate, and the I.D. concepts are proof of that.”

Volkswagen is working hard to rid itself of the soot stains from Dieselgate, and the I.D. concepts are proof of that. These 15 new fully electric vehicles will have zero local emissions, after all. Besides what Tesla sells, electric vehicles are battling against the SUV craze and low fuel prices. Volkswagen is hoping to sway consumers toward its EV products with snazzy features and bright lights. Literally, they’re using lights.

Walk up to the I.D. Crozz Concept, and an LED light show emanates from the badges and headlights. The doors electrically open, with the front swinging a full 90 degrees and the rear door sliding open like a minivan. The absent B-pillar and glass roof makes the cabin feel extra large and inviting.

The rest of the interior takes a futuristic, minimalistic approach. LED lights illuminate the space, an infotainment screen is basically the only interface on the dash, and the steering wheel looks like something from TRON. A digital gauge cluster resides behind the wheel in a sort of form-fitted, metallic pod behind the wheel.

“The electric motors work independently of each other, with electricity sent to the rear-axle motor during normal driving conditions”

The electric drivetrain is also futuristic. The electric motors work independently of each other, with electricity sent to the rear-axle motor during normal driving conditions. The driver can engage the AWD and the front motor turns on. The 101-horse front motor and 201-horse rear motor combined for a total of 302 horsepower. VW didn’t announce a torque figure but count on it being pretty high.

Of course, pricing wasn’t discussed, but Woebcken did promise the Crozz would be affordable. We’d guess it’ll start in the lower $30,000 range. Then again, 2020 is still a long ways off.

Nissan debuted an all-new compact crossover at the 2017 L.A. Auto Show – the 2018 Nissan Kicks. Its designed as a fun, visually appealing city run-about with good fuel economy, room for five people and their stuff, the most desired in-dash technology, and a price that starts “well under $19,000.”

Dan Mohnke, Nissan’s senior vice president of sales, marketing, and operations, says, “As the gateway to Nissan’s adventure-ready sport-utility portfolio – joining Rogue Sport,Rogue,Murano,Pathfinder, and Armada – Kicks is designed to fit the needs of singles or couples looking for expressive styling, personal technology, smart functionality and advanced safety features at an affordable price.”

Less frog-like, but more conventional

“It has all the popular design styling found on the competition”

The 2018 Nissan Kicks looks nothing like the Juke, that frog-faced crossover with big, round headlights and oddly shaped fenders. Rather, Nissan designers took a more conventional approach. That’s not to say the Kicks or boring, though. It has all the popular design styling found on the competition. Cues include the blacked-out, floating roof, sharp creases in the doors surrounded by bulgy, round fenders, and over exaggerated LED lighting.

Inside, the Kicks has an almost no-nonsense dash design. It doesn’t skimp on technology, though. There’s a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a large driver information screen in the gauge cluster, push-button starting, steering wheel controls, and plenty of USB ports. Nissan’s Around View Monitor system offers a 360-degree view of the outside and an interesting Bose audio system with a pair of small “Ultranearfield” speakers in the driver’s headrest. The range-topping Kicks SR trim is where the tech gadgets are added. The S and SV represent the bottom and mid-range trims.

“Power comes from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder, and Nissan clearly intends the Kicks to be a fuel-sipper with only 125 horsepower and 115 pound-feet of torque”

Power comes from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder, and Nissan clearly intends the Kicks to be a fuel-sipper with only 125 horsepower and 115 pound-feet of torque. Nissan’s Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System is present on the dual overhead cams that control the four valves in each cylinder. A continuously variable transmission is the only gearbox choice, sadly, as is front-wheel drive. Yep, no AWD option here. Fuel economy is expected to be 33 mpg on the highway.

Official pricing hasn’t been announced, but Mohnke’s comment about the MSRP starting “well under $19,000” might mean anything from $17,000 to $18,500. Nissan will release pricing a bit closer to the Kicks’ arrival in showrooms in the spring of 2018.

Seventeen years ago, the Saleen S7 burst into our lives as a hand-built, high-performance American supercar. It came from the mind of Steve Saleen, who made his fame designing six generation’s worth of Saleen-tuned Mustangs. Fast forward to this year and history has repeated itself. Saleen is back in the spotlight with a new supercar. It’s called the Saleen S1, and it’s the two-seater supercar we never knew we wanted…until now.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Saleen S1 is how dramatic it looks. From the sharp nose to the triangular headlights and the raised shoulders, the S1’s design is impressive. It does that easily from a design perspective. Move beyond its good looks, and you’ll be surprised to know that, even for a small car, the S1 comes with plenty of premium materials. That includes a carbon fiber body, an aluminum chassis, and solid Continental ExtremeContact Sport tires. It’s a well-packaged and well-designed supercar that speaks to the unquestioned talents of the man whose legacy in the industry is without peer.

All that said, the real highlight of the S1 is the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that’s responsible for helping the S1 realize its supercar potential. The engine produces 450 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, numbers that put it slightly ahead of the 430-horsepower Lotus Exige Cup 430, considered to be the most extreme road-going car Lotus has ever created. The S1’s output allows it to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds before hitting the quarter-mile in 11.3 seconds. Saleen claims that it also has a top speed of 180 mph, a figure that actually seems a little conservative considering the preparation that went into the development of the car.

“The S1’s output allows it to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds before hitting the quarter-mile in 11.3 seconds”

A six-speed manual transmission comes standard on the car. If you prefer a paddle-shift, dual-clutch automatic transmission, you might have to wait a little longer to get that version. Saleen did say that it will arrive “at some point.” Regardless of the transmission, the Saleen S1 has all the makings of a supercar that’s going to catch a lot of people by surprise. Seventeen years after the S7 supercar made our knees weak, its successor is poised to have that same effect.

The 2017 L.A. Auto Show has seen an impressive number of debuts, from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 to the new Jeep Wrangler. But perhaps one of the most consumer-focused vehicles is the new 2018 Hyundai Kona. This B-segment crossover offers room for five, nearly 20 cubic feet of cargo room, an available AWD system, two powertrain options, tons of in-dash tech and active safety equipment, and a funky design aimed at taming the urban jungles of Everytown, U.S.A.

The Kona isn’t the only compact crossover debuting at the 2017 L.A. Auto show, though. The Nissan Kicks is new and will be a major competitor for the Kona. Other rivals include the Jeep Renegade,Toyota CH-R,Honda HR-V, and Ford EcoSport. The Hyundai seems up to the challenge; it boasts a fun interior combined with an available 175-horsepower turbo-four backed by a dual-clutch automatic all riding on a new platform designed for responsiveness. Competitors with CVTs and less horsepower should be worried.

Continue reading for more on the 2018 Hyundai Kona.

Designed for fun, just like its namesake

“Aside from a well-schemed name, the 2018 Kona really seems like a fun-oriented crossover”

The Kona name comes from the west-coast region of the Big Island of Hawaii. It’s hard to dream of a more exciting and thrill-seeker-friendly location than that. Hyundai obviously wants the Kona spirit to rub off on the crossover.

Aside from a well-schemed name, the 2018 Kona really seems like a fun-oriented crossover. Not that the competition is focused on being dull or boring. I mean, just look at them…

The Kona’s body features black plastic “armor” designed for protecting it from city life. It’s not as outlandish as the Citroën Cactus with its padded exterior door panels, but it’s close. A tall stance also decreased the chances of scraping on parking stops or steep driveways. SUV-like classing along the rocker panels and fenders adds to the rugged look.

Floating rooflines are all the rage these days, and the 2018 Kona has just enough split on its D-pillar to join the club. The roof slopes in the rear, too, but without cutting into rear-seat headroom. Wheel choices are sized in 16-, 17-, and 18-inches, depending on the trim level. Speaking of which, the Kona will come in several trim levels, with the Limited and Ultimate being the two highest.

“The standard engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque with no forced induction and running the fuel-saving Atkinson combustion cycle”

As for power, two engines are available. The standard engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque with no forced induction and running the fuel-saving Atkinson combustion cycle. A six-speed automatic sends power to the front wheels. Optionally, the Kona get a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder making a respectable 175 horses and 195 pound-feet of torque. Torque is actually this engine’s specialty, with peak twist happening at only 1,500 rpm and staying on till 4,500 rpm. Horsepower then peaks at 5,500 rpm. Hyundai pairs the 1.6-liter with its seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, just like in the lovable Hyundai Elantra Sport. AWD is available and actually comes with an independent rear suspension in place of the torsion beam found on FWD models.

Pricing hasn’t been announced, but the Hyundai Kona is expected to start around $20,000 when it hits showrooms in the first quarter of 2018.

The all-new 2019 Volkswagen Jetta is coming for the North American market. While it is rumored to make its debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2018, Volkswagen Canada kicked off the teasing game for the sedan on its website with a single gif of the car sitting in the shadows. A light then moves over and around the sedan, showing bits and pieces of the new Jetta’s styling characteristics.

There’s not much to go on because the gif itself doesn’t reveal a lot of useful details. The moving light does focus on a few revealing bits, including what looks like a new front grille, a redesigned bumper, and more angular headlights. The body lines also look more prominent, though that could also be the shadows playing visual tricks on our eyes. Regardless of what the gif is trying to tease, Volkswagen’s North American president Heinrich Woebcken has already come out and described the new Jetta as being “strong,” super modern,” and “emotional.”

“We have given the car a North American ‘touch’ but not always in terms of low-cost and less content, but in much more specific needs of the market,” Woebcken added in his conversation with VW Vortex.. “The Jetta will be, for me, a symbolic statement that Volkswagen is changing by really allowing to listen to American customers, American dealers, what the market needs.”

Woebcken’s comments add another layer of expectation surrounding the new Jetta. It paints the new sedan as having been created with the American customer in mind. That would make sense because even with declining sales in the last few years, the Jetta is still Volkswagen’s best-selling model in the US. Last year, more than 121,000 units of the sedan sold. This year’s no different as more than 100,000 units of the Jetta have already been delivered to US owners.

The new Jetta is expected to launch sometime next year as a 2019 model. A sportier R-Line version will also be in the pipeline. Same thing with a GLI version that will include an option for a manual gearbox, something that the current 2018 Jetta GLI model does not have.

Expect Volkswagen to reveal more details on the all-new Volkswagen Jetta when the car officially makes its debut at the 2018 NAIAs in January 2018.

Everyone knew the all-new 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL would be more expensive than the outgoing, decade-old Wrangler JK. A $1,000 to $2,000 increase in price sounded reasonable for all the improvements made. Well, it seems FCA figures it can charge exorbitantly more for the new Wrangler – $10,000 more on the luxury-minded Sahara trim, to be exact.

The news comes from none other than JLWranglerforums.com, the seemingly official leaker of all things JL over the least two years. A user posted a spied Monroney window sticker showing a base price of $45,000 for an Unlimited Sahara equipped with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 and manual transmission.

Now, there are a few caveats to this information. The pricing might not be completely finalized, so there’s a chance the price is inaccurate. Also, the options list only shows Jeeps RPO codes with no breakdown in pricing for each item. There’s a chance the options’ pricing is somehow including in the “base price” of $45,000. If so, that would make the true, pre-options base price far less. Jeep is apparently keeping its $1,095 destination charge from before.

Of course, the base Sport trim will be significantly less expensive than the leather-lined Sahara, especially in two-door form, so modest Jeepers should still be able to find a good deal. The Rubicon, however, will be more expensive than the Sahara thanks to its extra off-road hardware. This tiered system has been around for a while, so that’s old news. What is news is Jeep’s potential of pricing itself out of the active lifestyle, off-roading, and consumer base that made the Wrangler JK so popular.

Crossovers and SUVs have become integral parts of Nissan’s success in recent years, so much so that the Japanese automaker’s participation at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show revolved around the Kicks, a sub-compact crossover that costs under $20,000. But, just because these vehicle types have become the rage in the industry these days, that doesn’t mean that Nissan will veer away from building sedans, coupes, and all non-crossover, non-SUV types. On the contrary, these types of cars will continue to make up a significant part of Nissan’s portfolio, including a new Z-car that will finally take the reigns away from the dated 370Z sports coupe.

“There were even rumors that Nissan was bringing a concept to the Tokyo Motor Show last month that would serve as the foundation for the next-gen Z-car.”

For the record, the Nissan 370Z has been since 2009. That’s eight years if you’re counting. It’s no secret that the current sports coupe will be replaced at some point in the near future. The only question is “when” it’s going to happen. That speculation on the status of the next Z-car continues to be a hot-button issue for the Japanese automaker. There were even rumors that Nissan was bringing a concept to the Tokyo Motor Show last month that would serve as the foundation for the next-gen Z-car. Instead, we got more lip service of the company’s “plans” for the segment.

The recent comments made by Nissan’s North American VP of product planning, Michael Bunce, follows the same template. While he didn’t exactly come out with a specific timetable for the 370Z replacement, he did say that the company is “taking its time to make sure that the new car is more outrageous than before.” Basically, the “when” argument for the next-generation Z-car still holds true. But, it’s still coming and that’s good news. The only caveat is that it’s not coming anytime soon.

So prepare yourselves for more versions of a sports car that’s approaching ten years of activity in the auto industry. I don’t know if that’s cause for celebration or not, but, for better or worse, Nissan thinks it is because it’s no rush to put the car out to pasture.

The phrase “less is more” applies to a lot of things in this world. It doesn’t, however, apply to the Porsche 911. In this case, “more is more” is a better way to describe the 911, and, for its part, Porsche is giving the people what they want with the arrival of the 911 Carrera T. The arrival of the 911 Carrera T comes at a time when Porsche is doing right by its loyal fan base by living up to its promise of introducing more “pure” iterations of the iconic sports car. The 911 R and the 911 GT3 are already around to tickle the purist’s fancy. Now it’s being joined by a new derivative that’s almost 50 pounds lighter than the standard 911. Happy days are ahead for Porsche 911 fans because the 911 Carrera T has arrived.

Weight-savings is a big deal in the world of sports cars, and we see that on full display in how the Porsche 911 Carrera T is packaged. The model actually starts off as a standard Carrera unit, but in the name of cutting weight, the rear seats and the infotainment system are taken out. There is an option for these parts to be put back in, but that defeats the purpose of cutting weight, doesn’t it? In any case, the Carrera T weighs just 3,142 pounds. That’s almost 50 pounds lighter than the standard 911 Carrera.

Beyond the cut in weight, the 911 Carrera T also features a 3.0-liter biturbo flat-six engine that produces 370 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, exactly the same amount of power that the base Carrera has. But since the Carrera T is a weight class lower than its standard counterpart, it’s capable of sprinting from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.5 seconds. That’s 0.1 seconds quicker than the standard model. The top speed for this new variant sits at 182 mph with the standard manual transmission and 180 mph with the optional PDK unit.

At the end of the day, any sports car’s value is largely dependent on its actual value. The Porsche 911 Carrera T does well for itself in that regard because it starts at $102,100. Sure, it’s $11,000 more than the standard 911 Carrera T, but with all of its improvements, I’d say it’s worth the extra $10K. Should you agree and you’re looking to get one, orders for the newest 911 derivate are already being taken. Sign up for one, and you can expect yours to be delivered sometime in the middle of 2018.

Honda has high hopes for the all-new 2018 Accord, so it’s taking the car’s dealership experience to a whole new level with a new feature called HondaLens. The augmented reality (AR) feature puts prospective customers in a unique position of seeing the Accord and its features in a whole new light, literally and figuratively. The proprietary system made its debut at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show in grand fashion. Those in attendance were given an opportunity to peak into the history of one of Honda’s best-selling models before diving deep into the array of features that the tenth-generation Accord has at its disposal.

“The HondaLens feature allows users to view six hidden stories about the car that they can discover by walking around the car”

This is something to look forward to. I’ve been exposed to augmented reality before, but not in this kind of presentation. It’s good that Honda is taking advantage of the budding technology to present a new way of dealership engagement for its customers. It’s one thing to get the usual schtick from sales agents; it’s another thing to wear Microsoft’s HoloLens reality smart glass and have the stories of the Honda Accord brought before your eyes in ways that we only used to see in Hollywood.

According to Honda, the HondaLens feature allows users to view six hidden stories about the car that they can discover by walking around the car. Way-finding arrows and voice-over instructions are included in the presentation to make it easier for a customer to engage himself into the augmented reality that’s flashing before his eyes. Ever seen a hologram version of the Accord’s new turbocharged engine floating out of the hood? HondaLens can do that. There’s even a feature that puts a customer in the driver’s seat, and he experiences simulated traffic scenarios that are projected through the windshield. Move to the passenger seat, and the AR presentation turns to the various tech features that the all-new Accord is carrying. Pretty cool, right?

“What’s unclear at this point is Honda’s plans for HondaLens after the LA Auto Show.”

What’s unclear at this point is Honda’s plans for HondaLens after the LA Auto Show. It’d be cool to find this feature in its dealerships in the near future, but I won’t hang my hat on that happening anytime soon. I do hope it becomes available sooner than later. The quicker we get HondaLens into dealerships, the quicker it would be for us to appreciate the technology and what it’s all about.

As far as car designers go, Steve Saleen is a legend among legends. The man responsible for six generations of Saleen Mustangs is back in the game with a new offering. It’s called the S1 supercar, and it’s a furious little piece that packs a walloping 450-horsepower on a 2,685-pound carbon fiber body. The S1 made its presence known at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, and it’s the latest masterpiece from a mind that’s responsible for giving us more Saleen Mustangs than our fragile hearts could handle. Oh, and he’s also the architect of the S7 supercar, the 550-horsepower supercar that blew everyone’s mind back in 2001. The S1 is the latest in a long line of iconic builds, and it’s arrived to take money out of our wallets. Are your bank accounts ready?

“It features a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that produces 450 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque”

There’s something to be said for a supercar that packs the kind of power and performance that the S1 supercar has. It features a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that produces 450 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. The numbers add up to a car that can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds before peaking at a top speed of 180 mph. Those are serious capabilities for a car that weighs just 2,865 pounds. The prevailing thought suggests that there has to be a rub to this kind of packaging.

Well, there is none; the S1 is what it is. There are no hidden agendas tied to the car, and that includes its price tag of just $100,000. That figure is roughly the same starting price as the new Porsche 911 Carrera T, a sports car that offers 80 less horsepower than Saleen’s new pride and joy. The S1’s affordable price tag is no accident either; it’s part of Saleen’s long-term strategy to make the car cheap enough to allow for higher sales and bigger production volumes. The company does have a goal of building 1,500 to 2,000 units per year in the US alone. A similar number is being eyed in the European market to go with a “substantial” number of models over in China.

“The S1 can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds before peaking at a top speed of 180 mph”

If you’re interested in getting an early slice of the Saleen S1, now’s as good a time as any to get in on the action as the automaker is already taking $1,000 deposits for the sports car.

If you’ve ever shopped for a Toyota 86 or anything under the now-defunct Scion brand, you’ll know they only come in one trim level and options are very scarce. It’s Toyota’s way of simplifying the purchase experience while making production easier thanks to far fewer build combinations. Well, Lexus is at it again with the 2019 LX 570 Two-Row.

If you haven’t heard, Lexus is now offering its swanky LX 570 without the third-row seats at a $5,000 reduced price. The mono-spec trim accompanies the changes by including the four-zone climate control system normally included with the $1,190 Luxury Package. Unfortunately, it seems the optional heated and vented second-row seats are not available or is the dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system.

So what’s the big deal? Well, it provides shoppers with an easier time at dealerships since the only choices are interior and exterior color options. Unlike its competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Range Rover, the LX might be a godsend for the indecisive.

Easy Access system automatically retracts the steering wheel and moves the driver’s seat rearward when the ignition is switched off; both return to their preset memory positions the next time the driver is seated and starts the ignition.

With Lexus Enform Remote (one-year trial subscription included), the customer can remotely view and control certain aspects of the vehicle using a mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Once registered, the app can operate remote door lock/unlock; remote stop/start for the engine and climate control; vehicle finder, guest driver monitor, and more.

Toyota’s new FT-AC Concept crossover is an interesting rig. It’s an off-road-ready vehicle with all-terrain tires, skid plates, LED off-road lights, recovery hooks, and massive fender flares. Toyota says its rugged aesthetics are inspired by the Land Cruiser and 4Runner – Toyota’s leading off-road SUVs. But the FT-AC Concept is more than a brawny crossover with exaggerated features. It’s a mobile camera platform ready to capture, edit, upload, and share your next outdoor adventure with all your friends.

The FT-AC boasts two infrared cameras mounted to the side mirrors. They not only capture the trail ahead but can be removed for hand-held use. And if the infrared image isn’t bright enough for your selfie, the LED off-road lights will act as a flash. The raw video and photo content is uploaded to a cloud-based storage system via the FT-AC’s Wi-Fi hotspot where users can edit and share the content through their smartphone. Yes, this is the future of connected vehicles, according to Toyota. Or at least it’s a superfluous theory.

For better or worse, the FT-AC is only a concept, and it seems Toyota has no formal plans for production. While the cameras might be outlandish, there are some really innovative features, the best of which is the built-in bike rack integrated into the rear bumper. Simply pull the center section rearward, and the bike rack expands to fit a full-size road or mountain bike – all without having some shaky aftermarket rack scuffing up the paint or rattling on the receiver hitch.

What do you think about the FT-AC? Would you want your next crossover to have cameras for uploading video content? Let us know in the comments below.

Unveiled in mid-November 2017, the C7-gen Corvette ZR1 is the quickest, most powerful, and most aerodynamic Corvette ever built. At the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, Chevrolet also unveiled a convertible version, only the second such body style to be offered since the original ZR1 was introduced back in 1969. While launching the ZR1 Convertible, Chevrolet announced that the first production unit of the ZR1 will be auctioned for charity in January 2018. Specifically, a coupe example will go under the hammer at the Barrett-Jackson event in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 20.

All proceeds collected by the 755-horsepower, 715-pound-foot supercar will benefit the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which builds mortgage-free smart homes for severely injured firefighters through its Building for America’s Bravest program. The foundation is named for a New York City firefighter and first responder who died during the World Trade Center terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The Corvette ZR1 joins an impressive lineup of first-production models that were auctioned for charity by Chevrolet in recent years, like the Corvette Z06 and several Camaro models, including the drag-spec COPO. Given that the Corvette Z06 was auctioned for $1 million back in 2015, it’s safe to assume that the ZR1 will also raise a seven-digit sum for the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. We will be back with the result in January.